- Date
- October 14, 2005, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Benton, TN
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N381SL1200 G103
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Memphis FSDO-25
- FAA report
- 20051014027669A
- Case key
- 62686
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudgment of distance and failure to maintain a visual look out during a forced landing resulting in an in flight collision with a guy wire and the ground.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was flying about 1200 feet above the ground when the glider lost thermal lift. He made a 270-degree turn towards an open area for an emergency landing. As the glider approached the emergency landing area, it was too high for a landing and was losing airspeed. The pilot then turn towards another field and said that he misjudged the distance to that landing area. As the pilot continued to maneuver for an emergency landing, the right wing tip collided with a guy wire on a power pole. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the glider.
Factual narrative
"This report is based on information received by the NTSB. Additional details may be found in the NTSB's public docket for the case. For further information please contact the NTSB Office of Public Inquires."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N381SL
- Reported as
- 1200 G103
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 3603
- Engine
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Max Robert Gieseke
- Registered owner
- St. Louis Soaring Association Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 92A · Benton, TN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 412 total · 412 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- CHA, 38 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.